Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for stenotic dialysis arterio-venous fistulas

From December 1982 to January 1991, we performed fistulography on 40 patients who complained functional failure of arterio-venous dialysis fistula. And percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was attempted on 15 patients (19 times) who revealed marked fistula stenosis. Initial successful rate was 78.9% and patency rate was 56.2% in the first 6 months. (75% in the first 6 months when angioplasty was initially successful). We describe the method of fistulography and PTA for stenotic dialysis fistulas, and evaluate the usefulness of PTA. And also we introduce our attempts for improving the initial successful rate and patency rate. In conclusion, when dialysis arterio-venous fistula is stenotic but not occlusive, PTA should be considered first before surgical treatment is done.